Jameis Winston NFL Fantasy Profiles

News

Ready to work with Leftwich

New offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich confirmed Winston will be the Buccanners' starting quarterback in 2019, Rick Stroud of The Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: Leftwich said he and Winston will be "connected at the hip" throughout the process of implementing head coach Bruce Arians' vertical offense. The 39-year-old is expected to get his second shot as an NFL play-caller, after taking over in Arizona when Mike McCoy was fired midway through the 2018 campaign. Despite some initial improvement, Leftwich ultimately was unable to turn things around in the desert, faced with the limitations of a rookie quarterback playing behind an atrocious offensive…read more

Published: Mon, Jan 21 at 10:07am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to stay in Tampa

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said Winston will be back with the team in 2019, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Winston finished out his fourth NFL season in good health, allowing the Bucs to drop the fifth-year option on his contract if they'd rather have an extra $20.9 million in cap space. He may not have played well enough to warrant a long-term extension, but it's hard to see how the team would find an upgrade for 2019. Licht is probably hoping to pair Winston with a draft pick, as 36-year-old Ryan Fitzpatrick is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and should be able to find high-end…read more

Published: Mon, Dec 31 at 11:35am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Another 300-yard game to cap season

Winston completed 22 of 35 passes for 345 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in the Buccaneers' 34-32 loss to the Falcons on Sunday. He also rushed twice for 23 yards.

Analysis: With reports emerging earlier Sunday that the team planned to bring him back as its starting quarterback in 2019, Winston promptly went out and put together one of his best performances of the season. The four-year veteran's quartet of passing scores equaled a season high, while his yardage total served as his third-best figure of 2018. Winston finishes his abbreviated 2018 campaign with five 300-yard passing efforts overall, but he now faces an offseason of uncertainty from a coaching…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 30 at 1:54pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Will be Bucs starter in 2019

Winston will return as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback in 2019, according to Adam Schefter on ESPN Sunday Countdown.

Analysis: Due to a combination of uneven play and off-the-field concerns in his first three campaigns, Winston was a question mark to return to the only home he's known as a professional. Ryan Fitzpatrick's scorching start to the season during Winston's three-game suspension didn't do the latter any favors. However, Winston has settled into a nice groove since Week 11, completing 64.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 300-plus yards twice, and recording nine touchdowns versus three interceptions over…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 30 at 7:41am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

May cede snaps to backup

Winston may not play all of the Buccaneers' offensive snaps in Week 17 against the Falcons after coach Dirk Koetter said Monday that the team would like to get backup quarterback Ryan Griffin his first NFL regular-season reps in the contest, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "The guy's been here for three years," Koetter said of Griffin. "He's worked his tail off."

Analysis: Koetter didn't expound on what Griffin's workload might look like if he enters the game, but based on the coach's comments, it's likely the 29-year-old would only take the field for a brief cameo. It would amount to a token gesture of gratitude for a player who has spent the bulk of six professional seasons on either the New Orleans or Tampa Bay rosters without officially making his NFL debut. With that in mind, Griffin's potential usage might only be a minor hindrance on Winston's fantasy…read more

Published: Thu, Dec 27 at 3:36pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Productive in defeat

Winston completed 34 of 48 passes for 336 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 27-20 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. He also rushed four times for 14 yards and lost two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Analysis: From a fantasy perspective, Winston's final line was strong overall, but one of his miscues was responsible for the Cowboys' final margin of victory. The fourth-year signal-caller gave up the ball on a sack at the Cowboys' 31-yard line late in the first quarter, and Jaylon Smith scooped it up and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown. Winston otherwise was sharp for the most part and gave Tampa a fighting chance at a possible game-tying drive when he capped off an eight-play, 71-yard march with…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 23 at 1:25pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Struggles in Week 15 loss

Winston completed 13 of 25 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in the Buccaneers' 20-12 loss to the Ravens on Sunday. He netted zero yards on two rushes.

Analysis: Winston had a couple of highlights -- a 64-yard completion to Mike Evans on a broken play being the most prominent -- but his final line was indicative of the sluggish performance of the Buccaneers offense on the rainy afternoon. Winston's passing yardage total was his lowest by far in any game he's played start to finish this season, and the touchdown-less performance was only his second of the campaign. The fourth-year pro will look to bounce back against the Cowboys in a Week 16 matchup.

Published: Sun, Dec 16 at 1:32pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Inaccurate in divisional loss

Winston completed 18 of 38 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Buccaneers' 28-14 loss to the Saints on Sunday. He also rushed five times for 47 yards.

Analysis: Winston's completion percentage dipped under 50.0 percent for the first time this season, although he did extend his streak of two-touchdown games to four. The four-year pro also posted a season-low 5.6 YPA, but he continued to provide some unexpected production on the ground by rushing for over 45 yards for a second consecutive week. Winston's one interception came on a last-gasp heave to Mike Evans with nine seconds remaining, a pass Marshon Lattimore brought down in the end zone. Winston…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 9 at 1:50pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Throws two TD passes

Winston completed 20 of 30 pass attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns Sunday against the Panthers. He also carried five times for 48 yards in the 24-17 win.

Analysis: Winston completed 67 percent of his passes while averaging a healthy 8.3 yards per attempt. He threw touchdown passes to Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries, giving him a 6:1 TD:INT over his last three games. Winston was also effective as a ball carrier, leading the team in rushing to top off his productive afternoon. He'll look to build on his recent success in Week 14 during what should be a high-scoring affair against the Saints.

Published: Sun, Dec 2 at 2:24pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Excels in Week 12 win

Winston completed 29 of 38 passes for 312 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 27-9 win over the 49ers on Sunday. He also rushed seven times for 24 yards.

Analysis: Coach Dirk Koetter couldn't have asked for a better performance out of Winston in his return to the starting job, as he remained mistake-free and connected with eight different pass catchers overall. Winston opened the scoring with a 6-yard scoring strike to Cameron Brate in the first quarter, and he came back with a 28-yard scoring toss to Adam Humphries in the fourth quarter that served as the final points of the day for either squad. The 2015 first overall pick's future with the franchise…read more

Published: Sun, Nov 25 at 1:25pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Named as Week 12 starter

Winston will get the start Week 12 against the 49ers, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: The announcement comes as no surprise after Ryan Fitzpatrick threw seven interceptions the past three weeks, including a trio in Sunday's 38-35 loss to the Giants before he was replaced by Winston. The 24-year-old led three consecutive touchdown drives to bring the Bucs back into the contest, but he didn't have much time on the final series and was picked off on a desperation heave. Winston will now face a San Francisco defense that's given up 21 touchdown passes while notching just two…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 19 at 12:33pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Nearly leads comeback in loss

Winston entered Sunday's 38-35 loss to the Giants in the third quarter and completed 12 of 16 passes for 199 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed five times for 16 yards and fumbled once, but it was recovered by Mike Evans for a touchdown. Despite Winston's heroics, Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com reports that head coach Dirk Koetter was noncommital about Winston being his Week 12 starter versus the 49ers in his postgame press conference

Analysis: Ryan Fitzpatrick earned himself a benching with a three-interception performance over two-plus quarters, so Winston was called into action for the first time since Week 8 against the Bengals. He proceeded to nearly pull off a rather improbable comeback, leading the Bucs to 28 second-half points on four drives of 66 yards or more. Winston nearly committed a back-breaking mistake when he lost the handle on the ball on the way into the end zone late in the third quarter, but Evans alertly fell on…read more

Published: Sun, Nov 18 at 1:32pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Remains in backup role

Winston will continue to back up starter Ryan Fitzpatrick in Sunday's road game against the Giants.

Analysis: Winston seemingly was benched due to issues with turnovers. The low point was a four-interception performance in a Week 8 loss to the Bengals, extending his streak with multiple picks to five games (four of them this season, plus Week 17 of the 2017 campaign). Since Winston's demotion, Fitzpatrick similarly has been turnover-prone, committing five in back-to-back losses. With the Bucs sitting at 3-6, Winston may be given another chance to play this season. That said, his fifth-year option is…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 12 at 5:28pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Demoted for Week 9

Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the starting nod over Winston for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Analysis: Winston was pulled from Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Bengals after throwing his fourth interception of the afternoon, paving the way for Fitzpatrick to tie up the game with 18 consecutive points. Winston hasn't had too much trouble moving the Tampa offense downfield, but his strong marks for completion percentage (64.9) and yards per attempt (8.0) have been negated by the worst INT rate (6.8 percent) in the league. It still won't be surprising if Tampa Bay turns back to the 2015 first-round pick…read more

Published: Mon, Oct 29 at 11:52am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Pulled from Sunday's game

Winston was pulled from Sunday's game in Cincinnati in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick, but not before completing 18 of 35 passes for 276 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.

Analysis: Coach Dirk Koetter made the decision after Winston's fourth pick was returned to the house by Bengals safety Jessie Bates late in the third quarter. In four games since taking over for Fitzpatrick in Week 4, Winston racked up 1,181 yards and four touchdown passes, but his performances were turnover-laden. Overall, Winston has 10 interceptions and four fumbles (one lost). While this move may only be temporary, Koetter will have a tough call to make between Winston and Fitzpatrick in the coming…read more

Published: Sun, Oct 28 at 12:35pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Another 300-yard effort in overtime win

Winston completed 32 of 52 passes for 365 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Buccaneers' 26-23 overtime win over the Browns on Sunday. He also rushed 10 times for 55 yards and a touchdown and fumbled twice, recovering one and losing the other.

Analysis: It was another eventful and stat-filled afternoon for the fourth-year quarterback, who failed to throw a passing touchdown for the first time in a non-injury-shortened game since Week 7 of last season. The Buccaneers scored in some rather unusual ways Sunday, as both DeSean Jackson and Winston notched rushing touchdowns, with the latter's serving as his first on the ground this season. It's worth noting that Winston did scuffle in some key moments late in the game, throwing the second of two…read more

Published: Sun, Oct 21 at 1:59pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Full practice despite hip issue

Winston was designated with a hip injury on Wednesday's practice report but still turned in a full session, Carmen Vitali of the team's official site reports.

Analysis: The designation is likely due to just some residual soreness that Winston picked up during his 2018 starting debut against the Falcons last Sunday, as the Buccaneers have not issued any other statements regarding the matter. Winston is fully expected to be available for Sunday's Week 7 tilt against the Browns after throwing for 395 yards and four touchdowns in a losing cause versus Atlanta.

Published: Thu, Oct 18 at 6:26am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Tosses four scores in first start

Winston completed 30 of 41 passes for 395 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions during Sunday's 34-29 loss to Atlanta. He added 31 yards on the ground and fumbled twice, but neither was recovered by the defense.

Analysis: Winston got going early, connecting with Cameron Brate on a 15-yard back-shoulder touchdown for the game's first score. He continued humming from there, spreading the ball around so that seven different receivers ended the game with at least three catches. Winston is a dangerous option in a Buccaneers offense that has proven to be a high-flying attack throughout the early part of this season. Where the concerns might lie is in ball security. He takes on a Cleveland defense in Week 7 that is…read more

Published: Sun, Oct 14 at 2:49pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Returning to starting job

Winston will start against the the Falcons in Week 6 when the Buccaneers return from their bye, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: Ryan Fitzpatrick predictably faded after a scorching start to the year, tossing three picks in a Week 3 loss to Pittsburgh and producing just three points on six drives in Sunday's 48-10 loss to the Bears. Winston did throw a pair of interceptions after replacing Fitzpatrick on Sunday, but the 24-year-old at least had some success moving the ball. Winston will return to action against a soft Atlanta defense with the help of a deep group of receiving weapons, though he may not have O.J. Howard…read more

Published: Mon, Oct 1 at 11:52am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Plays second half of blowout loss

Winston (suspension) started the second half of the Buccaneers' 48-10 loss to the Bears on Sunday and completed 16 of 20 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed once for seven yards.

Analysis: Winston was inserted to start the third quarter with the Buccaneers already facing a 38-3 deficit and performed reasonably well considering the circumstances. The fourth-year quarterback wasn't expected to make his debut until a Week 6 matchup against the Falcons following the Week 5 bye, but the combination of Ryan Fitzpatrick's ineffectiveness and the lopsided score prompted head coach Dirk Koetter to parlay the undesirable circumstances into a way to ease Winston back into action. Given that…read more

Published: Sun, Sep 30 at 2:22pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Returning in backup role

Winston (suspension) is active for Sunday's game against the Bears, but will serve as the backup quarterback with Ryan Fitzpatrick listed as the team's starter.

Analysis: The Buccaneers didn't officially announce their plans at quarterback until minutes before kickoff, but multiple reports have surfaced over the past week suggesting Fitzpatrick would retain the starting nod for at least Week 4. Though that's now come to pass, Fitzpatrick may not have a long leash as the team's starter after coach Dirk Koetter reportedly mulled benching the signal-caller after he threw three second-quarter interceptions in Monday's 30-27 loss to the Steelers. Fitzpatrick…read more

Published: Sun, Sep 30 at 10:06am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to be backup in Week 4

The Buccaneers haven't named a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Bears, but "all signs point to" Ryan Fitzpatrick retaining the gig over Winston, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Winston is eligible to rejoin Tampa Bay this week after completing his three-game suspension, but the Buccaneers may not officially add him to their 53-man roster until Friday after they were granted a three-day exemption from the commissioner's office. It appears that activating Winston is merely a formality at this point, but once that happens, head coach Dirk Koetter may not immediately announce a starter for Week 4. Regardless of when a decision is made on that front, it's difficult to see…read more

Published: Wed, Sep 26 at 9:52am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Suspension lifted

Winston's suspension was lifted by the commissioner Tuesday, according to the NFL's official transaction report.

Analysis: As anticipated, Winston was able to return to the team's facility Tuesday, but he doesn't enter the building as the unanimous favorite to take over as starting quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick performed at a high level in Winston's absence, passing for at least three touchdowns and 400-plus yards in each start, leading the Buccaneers to a 2-1 record. More should be made clear about the competition once both quarterbacks take the field for practice Wednesday.

Published: Tue, Sep 25 at 8:31pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Eligible to return from suspension Tuesday

Winston (suspension) is eligible to return to the Buccaneers' 53-man roster Tuesday, but it remains uncertain if he'll start over Ryan Fitzpatrick in Sunday's game at Chicago, Austin Knoblauch of NFL.com reports. "Let's see what the injury report [says when it] comes back," head coach Dirk Koetter said after Monday's 30-27 loss to the Steelers, regarding his thoughts on the quarterback situation. "Any time we have these games, it's not always obvious how the guys are going to come in the next day and come in on Wednesday. Let's see what happens. I'd love to get a chance to talk to Jameis face-to-face before I tell the rest of the world."

Analysis: After Winston was handed a three-game suspension in June for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, it was widely assumed at the time that he would immediately recapture the starting role once eligible to return. However, that no longer looks to be a certainty, with Fitzpatrick's impressive play in Winston's stead proving vital to the Bucs' 2-1 start to the season against a tough slate of opponents. Though Fitzpatrick took a step back Monday by throwing three first-half interceptions, he…read more

Published: Tue, Sep 25 at 8:21am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Faces civil lawsuit from accuser

Winston (suspension) is being sued in relation to the allegations that resulted in a three-game suspension from the NFL, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The Uber driver in question has made serious claims about Winston's conduct inside the vehicle, and she's suing for "damages in the nature of emotional distress and future therapy expenses." Winston isn't facing criminal charges, but a civil trial is still a significant investigation. Winston only has one game remaining on the three-game ban he received from the NFL for this incident. Even when he's eligible to return, he'll likely continue watching Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has led the team to a…read more

Published: Tue, Sep 18 at 4:15pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Not guaranteed starting role upon return

Winston (suspension) isn't guaranteed the starting job upon his Week 4 return in the opinion of general manager Jason Licht, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. "[If] Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Griffin, whoever it is, is playing lights out, I don't think it's fair right now just to say, 'Yes, automatically, [Jameis] is going to be the guy,'" Licht said. "Now, he may be. Dirk and I -- Dirk in particular -- he's got some time to think about that."

Analysis: Licht made his comments during the local broadcast of last Thursday's preseason finale against the Jaguars, certainly raising a few eyebrows. Ryan Fitzpatrick faces an uphill battle to give the uncertainty Licht alludes to in his comments further credence, however, considering the veteran quarterback is slated to face three stingy defenses in the Saints, Eagles and Steelers over the guaranteed portion of his starting tenure. Furthermore, Winston is coming off the best preseason of his career,…read more

Published: Tue, Sep 4 at 1:52pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Not suiting up Thursday

Winston won't take the field for Thursday's preseason game versus the Jaguars, Greg Auman of The Athletic Tampa Bay reports.

Analysis: Winston will head into the regular season with an impressive line from three exhibitions -- 30-for-41 passing for 388 yards and three touchdowns versus no interceptions -- but a three-game suspension awaits him. While he's away from the team, Ryan Fitzpatrick will helm the Buccaneers offense. Winston is eligible to return Sunday, Sept. 30 at Chicago.

Published: Thu, Aug 30 at 3:34pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Sharp again

Winston (suspension) completed six of 10 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason game against the Lions.

Analysis: Ryan Fitzpatrick got the start and played two drives before handing things over to Winston for the rest of the first half. The 24-year-old quarterback has been exceptional this preseason, completing 30 of 41 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns without any turnovers. Of course, he's taken a lot of his snaps against backup defenders as a result of the Bucs preparing Fitzpatrick to start the first three weeks of the season. If Winston doesn't play in the preseason finale, his next in-game…read more

Published: Fri, Aug 24 at 8:07pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Excels in preseason win

Winston (suspension) completed 13 of 18 passes for 226 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Buccaneers' 30-14 preseason win over the Titans on Saturday.

Analysis: Seeing extended work for the second time in as many preseason games, Winston produced 12.6 yards per attempt while making impressive scoring connections with Chris Godwin and Justin Watson. Each play stood out for a different reason -- the score to Godwin came after Winston eluded multiple rushers, while the pocket pass to Watson was a perfect back-shoulder strike down the right sideline. The nifty juggling act coach Dirk Koetter has put on with respect to splitting reps between Ryan…read more

Published: Sun, Aug 19 at 8:50am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Razor-sharp with second team in preseason opener

Winston (suspension) entered the game on the Buccaneers' third possession in a 26-24 preseason win over the Dolphins on Thursday. He completed 11 of 13 passes for 102 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Analysis: Winston entered the game in the second quarter and had a key 19-yard completion to Freddie Martino during his first possession, a drive that culminated in a three-yard touchdown run by second-round pick Ronald Jones II. The fourth-year quarterback subsequently connected with rookie Justin Watson and Cameron Brate on his second series, putting on a crisp performance overall before giving way to Ryan Griffin for the entirety of the second half. The night went about as well as it could have for…read more

Published: Fri, Aug 10 at 10:50am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Takes reps with all three offensive units

Winston (suspension) received reps with all three offensive units during the Buccaneers' first practice of training camp Thursday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Analysis: Ryan Fitzpatrick opened with the first-team offense as expected, while Ryan Griffin started off directing the second-team group. However, it wasn't long before Winston started mixing in, eventually rotating in with all three offensive teams but logging the majority of his reps with the second unit according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. While the entire scenario is far from ideal, Winston appears to be facing it with the right approach on the surface, remarking Thursday that the…read more

Published: Thu, Jul 26 at 11:25pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Suspension puts future in doubt

Winston (suspension), whose $20.9 million fifth-year team option for 2019 is only guaranteed against injury, could be released by the team for any other reason at any time before March 13 of next year without related financial penalty, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: If Winston doesn't suffer any injury during the 2018 campaign that carries over into next offseason, the Bucs retain the right to revoke the option at any time before 4pm ET on March 13, 2019, the beginning of the new league year. That contingency officially became part of the overall conversation regarding Winston on Thursday, when the NFL publicly announced his three-game suspension for violation of the league's personal conduct policy. Laine further reports that Winston is owed $3.89 million…read more

Published: Fri, Jun 29 at 6:52am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Won't appeal suspension

Winston will not appeal his three-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

Analysis: Winston -- who issued a statement Thursday apologizing for the incident that led to his suspension -- will thus be eligible to make his regular-season debut Sept. 30, when the Buccaneers face the Bears in Chicago. In his absence, veteran signal-caller Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to start the team's first three contests in 2018. In the meantime, Winston is permitted to participate in all of the Buccaneers' preseason activities, including games.

Published: Thu, Jun 28 at 11:16am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Receives three-game suspension

The NFL suspended Winston three games for a violation of the personal conduct policy, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: The event in question was first reported Nov. 17 and has been on Winston's periphery in the interim. Specifically, a female Uber driver reported Winston to the company in March of 2016 for an incident of alleged groping. While she never filed a criminal or civil complaint, it was enough for the NFL to look into the situation. With a suspension in place, Winston will miss the first three games of the upcoming campaign, making him eligible to return Sept. 30 at Chicago. Meanwhile, Ryan…read more

Published: Thu, Jun 21 at 3:13pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Has fifth-year option picked up

The Buccaneers have picked up the fifth-year option on Winston's rookie contract, locking him in for 2019 at a $20.922 million salary that's only guaranteed against injury, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: The fifth-year option ensures Winston can't hit free agency or receive the franchise tag next season, giving the Bucs a bit of leverage in negotiations on a long-term contract. The team may be hesitant to work on a deal at the moment, as the NFL still hasn't talked to Winston about a November accusation that he groped an Uber driver in 2016, ESPN.com's Jenna Laine reports. Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer, general manager Jason Licht and coach Dirk Koetter all have expressed frustration with the…read more

Published: Tue, Apr 17 at 8:06am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston was involved in a car wreck recently and ultimately was cited for careless driving, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Analysis: Despite Winston being partially at fault for the wreck, a punishment from the NFL is not expected and he escaped uninjured. The 24-year-old will head into the 2018 season on the last remaining year of his contract.

Published: Fri, Feb 23 at 7:39am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston completed 28 of 51 passes for 363 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in Sundays' 31-24 win over the Saints. He also posted 32 yards and scored a touchdown on five rushes.

Analysis: Winston's final effort of a tumultuous 2017 fittingly had a bit of everything thrown in. The third-year quarterback managed to display some of the best and worst aspects of his game in the wild season-ending contest, as he short-circuited a trio of drives in Saints territory with interceptions. Conversely, he also managed to set a season high in rushing yards while scoring his first touchdown on the ground since Week 4 of the 2016 campaign. Moreover, Winston finished the season with consecutive…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 31 at 10:55pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston completed 21 of 27 passes for 367 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Sunday's 22-19 loss to the Panthers. He also rushed three times for six yards and lost three fumbles.

Analysis: Winston's performance was all over the map, as he rewarded fantasy owners with his second-highest yardage total of the season but also was a turnover machine under the constant pressure he was subjected to. The third-year quarterback was sacked on six occasions and officially hit eight times overall, helping lead to three fumbles. The final turnover of the day was not without controversy, as Winston argued that he'd recovered the loose ball at his own 18-yard line with 35 seconds remaining and…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 24 at 3:34pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston completed 27 of 35 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in Monday night's 24-21 loss to the Falcons. He also rushed three times for 18 yards.

Analysis: Winston turned in a stellar performance despite losing wideout DeSean Jackson and tight end O.J. Howard to ankle injuries early in Monday's contest. Without those prominent targets, Winston shared the wealth among Tampa Bay's pass catchers, completing a season-high 77.1 percent of his throws to a whopping 11 different players. Along with utilizing unfamiliar faces in the short game, two of Winston's three touchdowns came from over 25 yards, including a 42-yard bomb to Mike Evans during the…read more

Published: Tue, Dec 19 at 5:30am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston completed 26 of 38 passes for 285 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Lions. He also lost a fumble.

Analysis: Winston fired a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to bring the Buccaneers back from a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit, but Tampa ultimately fell short for the eighth time in the last 10 games. The third-year signal caller had helped put his team in the hole earlier in the game by throwing interceptions in the second and third quarters and fumbling away on a sack, blemishing what was an otherwise strong fantasy day. He spread the ball around for a second consecutive week, as well, connecting with a…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 10 at 3:46pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston (ankle) does not have an injury designation heading into Sunday's Week 14 tilt against the Lions, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Winston was listed as a full participant in practice throughout the week despite apparently battling a sore ankle, but his lack of a designation on the final report of the week unequivocally confirms his availability for Sunday's game. The third-year quarterback made a successful Week 13 return from a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury, throwing for 270 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the overtime loss to the Packers.

Published: Sat, Dec 9 at 8:34am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston practiced fully Wednesday despite being listed on the injury report with an ankle issue.

Analysis: Winston just returned from a three-game absence due to a shoulder injury in Week 13, throwing for 270 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime loss to the Packers. He presumably tweaked the ankle at some point during the contest, yet his full participation Wednesday seems to imply that the issue is minor. Winston's status is worth monitoring the remainder of the practice week as a matter of due diligence during fantasy playoff season, but there aren't any indications his Week 14 status is any…read more

Published: Thu, Dec 7 at 6:40am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston (shoulder) completed 21 of 32 passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 27-20 overtime loss to the Packers. He also rushed five times for 18 yards, fumbled twice (losing one) and logged a pair of fumble recoveries.

Analysis: Playing for the first time since Week 9, Winston put together an impressive final line for fantasy purposes, posting his first multi-touchdown effort since Week 7. Winston averaged a solid 8.4 yards per attempt as well and got Cameron Brate involved in the offense again after a four-week lull, finding the fourth-year tight end for both of his passing scores. However, he also lost a fumble that was returned for a 62-yard touchdown by the Packers' Dean Lowry in the second quarter and appeared to…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 3 at 3:14pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Active in Week 13

As expected, Winston (shoulder) is active for Sunday's Week 13 tilt against the Packers.

Analysis: Winston went through practice without restrictions this past week and had been officially named the starter, so this merely serves as final confirmation of his active status. He'll jump back into action after a three-game absence against a Packers squad that's allowed an average of 259.4 passing yards per game to quarterbacks.

Published: Sun, Dec 3 at 8:34am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Winston (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Green Bay, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Analysis: Winston was a full practice participant throughout the week and has already been named as the starter for Sunday. He'll return from a three-game absence to take on a Green Bay defense that's allowed quarterbacks to complete 68.8 percent of passes at a clip of 7.8 yards per attempt. The Bucs seemingly kept Winston on the injury repot just in case he suffers an unexpected late setback.

Published: Fri, Dec 1 at 1:45pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Full practice Wednesday

Analysis: Winston fulfilled the expectation he'd handle all the first-team work, which comes on the heels of head coach Dirk Koetter naming him the starter for Sunday's visit to Green Bay, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. As he prepares to bring a three-game absence to an end, Winston will focus on a Packers defense that has given up 259.4 yards passing per game and 17 touchdown tosses to quarterbacks across 11 contests in 2017.

Published: Wed, Nov 29 at 2:36pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Named starter for Week 13

Head coach Dirk Koetter called Winston (shoulder) the Buccaneers' starting quarterback for Sunday's contest at Green Bay, James Palmer of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: The Buccaneers haven't released their first Week 13 injury report, but Winston was expected to handle every rep with the first-team offense Wednesday, implying a full practice was likely, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Naming Winston the starter lends credence to this assumption as he prepares for the Packers' 25th-ranked pass defense.

Published: Wed, Nov 29 at 12:40pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to see all first-team snaps Wednesday

Winston (shoulder) will practice Wednesday and is expected to handle all of the reps with the first-team offense, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: The Buccaneers will issue an update on Winston's level of involvement Wednesday once the practice concludes, but if he's listed as a full participant, it would clear the way for him to start Sunday against the Packers. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the Buccaneers to a 2-1 record while Winston was sidelined, would settle back into the No. 2 quarterback role as a result. Though Winston draws a favorable matchup against a Packers pass defense that ranks 25th in the NFL with 244 passing yards allowed…read more

Published: Wed, Nov 29 at 9:37am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

May resume practicing Wednesday

Winston (shoulder) did some rehab work Monday and will resume practicing Wednesday if he doesn't feel any soreness, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: There was some speculation Winston might be shut down for the season when the Bucs ruled him out for a third straight week ahead of Sunday's 34-20 loss to Atlanta. It turns out that the quarterback has responded favorably to a platelet-rich plasma injection, with his sprained AC joint displaying clear improvement. A return to practice would put him on track to return for Sunday's game in Green Bay, though the Bucs surely would proceed with caution in the event of a setback, as any hopes for a…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 27 at 11:52am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Closing in on return

Winston (shoulder), who will miss his third straight game Sunday against the Falcons, could return for the Buccaneers' Week 13 matchup with the Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Rapoport relayed that Winston required platelet-rich plasma injections two weeks ago to address the injury to his throwing shoulder, with the treatment method apparently having produced the desired effect. Winston is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm that he's healing as anticipated, and if his scans come back clean, the quarterback could resume practicing as soon as next week. The Buccaneers have won both of their games with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting signal caller, but…read more

Published: Sun, Nov 26 at 5:28am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Ruled out another week

Winston (shoulder) will not return for Sunday's game in Atlanta, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Winston was reevaluated Monday and ruled out for at least one more game. The Bucs will take things on a week-to-week basis, likely opting for a cautious approach unless they miraculously climb back into the playoff picture. Ryan Fitzpatrick just led the team to back-to-back wins, albeit against the Jets and Dolphins with a major assist from the Tampa Bay defense. Still recovering from an AC joint sprain as well as a rear deltoid injury, Winston has yet to resume football activities.

Published: Mon, Nov 20 at 11:51am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Set for checkup

Winston (shoulder) will be reevaluated this week, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The Bucs' original plan was to sit Winston for two weeks while he rested his right shoulder and received a platelet-rich plasma injection to accelerate healing in his sprained AC joint. Ryan Fitzpatrick led the team to a pair of victories while Winston was sidelined, perhaps making a case to keep the starting job beyond that two-week window. It wouldn't make much sense for the Bucs to take an aggressive approach with their franchise quarterback, considering the team probably needs to win out to…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 20 at 8:20am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Friday that Winston received a platelet-rich plasma injection about a week ago to address the AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder.

Analysis: Winston has begun light rehab activities for the shoulder injury, but has yet to resume practicing and will miss his second straight game Sunday against the Dolphins, paving the way for Ryan Fitzpatrick to draw another start at quarterback. It's expected that Winston will be reevaluated Monday, at which point he could be cleared to increase his activity. Even if Winston is able to get back on the practice field next week, it's far from a given that he would be able to play in the Buccaneers'…read more

Published: Sat, Nov 18 at 7:26am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

At this stage, the Buccaneers have no plans to shut Winston (shoulder) down for the rest of the season.

Analysis: Coach Dirk Koetter relayed Monday that the expectation remains that Winston will play again this season, but for now the QB is resting his throwing shoulder and Ryan Fitzpatrick will remain the team's starting signal-caller in Week 11, backed up by Ryan Griffin. Once Winston's shoulder is re-evaluated, the Bucs will determine how best to move forward with their franchise QB, but at this juncture it remains to be seen exactly when that will transpire.

Published: Mon, Nov 13 at 2:26pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

No new damage detected during checkup

Winston indicated that no new damage to his right shoulder was detected after he met with Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. on Tuesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "Part of the protocol," Winston said Wednesday, regarding the visit for the second opinion. "I mean, all the doctors are working together to come up with what they think. All I know is for the next two weeks, I'm going to be rehabbing and getting my shoulder 100 percent. That's all I can say."

Analysis: Though Winston could require surgery if he doesn't respond to rehab work as well as the Buccaneers anticipate, for now, the team is hoping that two weeks off to rest his throwing shoulder will be all the quarterback needs to heal up. Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to start for the team while Winston recuperates, but with top wideout Mike Evans (suspension) set to miss Sunday's matchup with the Jets, Fitzpatrick's fantasy upside looks fairly limited.

Published: Thu, Nov 9 at 10:23am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Meets with Dr. Andrews

Winston met with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday for further evaluation on his injured right shoulder, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: The team has yet to issue an update on Andrews' findings from his meeting with Winston, so at this time, it's still expected that the quarterback will remain on a two-week shutdown period before he's reevaluated. Winston has been nursing an AC joint sprain in the shoulder since first suffering the injury Week 6 against the Cardinals, but was also diagnosed with a rear deltoid injury after exiting early in Sunday's loss to the Saints. The Buccaneers plan to go with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their…read more

Published: Wed, Nov 8 at 9:11am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Will be shut down

Winston (shoulder) will be shut down for at least two weeks, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: For the second time in four games, Winston didn't log a second-half snap as the team's medical staff made an executive decision to rule him out Sunday in New Orleans. A subsequent MRI revealed damage aside from the previously-known AC joint sprain in his right throwing shoulder, spurring Monday's development. While Winston turns his focus to rehabilitation, the Bucs will give Ryan Fitzpatrick at least a few opportunities to direct the offense, starting Sunday versus the Jets.

Published: Mon, Nov 6 at 12:00pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Underwent X-rays, MRI on Sunday

Winston required X-rays and an MRI after Sunday's loss to the Saints for the AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder along with a rear deltoid issue, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: The Buccaneers have yet to reveal the exam results of the two injuries, which resulted in Winston's early departure Sunday. Winston first sustained the shoulder injury Week 6 and has seen his effectiveness wane in the last two games, completing 54.9 percent of his passes and throwing no touchdowns against two interceptions. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who came on in relief for Winston on Sunday to complete eight of 15 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown, would start Week 10 against the Jets in the event…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 6 at 7:56am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Aggravates shoulder injury

Winston said he aggravated the AC joint sprain in his right shoulder injury during Sunday's 30-10 loss at New Orleans, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports.

Analysis: Winston ended the first half by landing hard on his right shoulder via a hit from Saints defensive end Alex Okafor. According to Winston, team doctors examined him at halftime and opted to rule him out for the rest of the game, leading to Ryan Fitzpatrick's third appearance of the season. Considering Winston has suffered a few setbacks with the shoulder since suffering the initial injury in Week 6, the Buccaneers may consider a respite to get Winston back to full health. Either way, his status…read more

Published: Sun, Nov 5 at 2:09pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Exits Sunday's game

Winston was forced out of Sunday's game against the Saints with a shoulder injury.

Analysis: With Winston nursing a shoulder issue, Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at QB for the Bucs on Sunday. Prior to his exit from the contest, Winston had completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 67 yards.

Published: Sun, Nov 5 at 11:48am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Active in Week 9

Winston (shoulder) is active for Sunday's Week 9 tilt against the Saints, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Analysis: As expected, Winston will play through the AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder for the third straight game. He's produced markedly different results over the first two contests in which he's been affected by the injury, and the Buccaneers and fantasy owners will certainly hope his Week 9 effort doesn't resemble last Sunday's 210-yard, two-interception afternoon against the Panthers in any way.

Published: Sun, Nov 5 at 8:39am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to play Sunday

Winston (shoulder) will start at quarterback Sunday against New Orleans, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Analysis: Winston is listed as questionable on the official injury report. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday but a full participant Friday. He may still have a bit of soreness due to the AC joint sprain he suffered in Week 6, but there's never been much question Winston will start. He'll take aim at an improved Saints defense that's surrendered just one 200-yard passing game since Week 2.

Published: Sat, Nov 4 at 9:14pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Finishes week with full practice

Winston (shoulder) was a full practice participant Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in New Orleans, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: Winston was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, coming off of an ugly performance in last week's 17-3 loss to the Panthers. He may still have a bit of soreness due to the AC joint sprain he suffered in Week 6, but there's never been much question Winston will start Sunday in New Orleans. He'll take aim at an improved Saints defense that's surrendered just one 200-yard passing game since Week 2. Matchups have played a role in the defense's solid production, but the Saints did a nice…read more

Published: Fri, Nov 3 at 2:00pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Limited practice Wednesday

Analysis: Like the past two weeks, Winston kicked off this one with a cap on his practices reps. However, he bucked the trend by taking part in every passing drill during the open portion of Wednesday's session, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The Buccaneers have suggested a lack of timing was to blame for Winston's miserable outing Sunday against the Panthers - 21-for-38 passing for 210 yards and two interceptions. On the other hand, he may be experiencing improvement with the sprained AC joint…read more

Published: Wed, Nov 1 at 2:20pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Throwing Wednesday

Winston (shoulder) threw during the portion of Wednesday's practice open to the media, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Analysis: Since suffering an AC joint sprain in his right throwing shoulder Week 6, Winston has followed a strict regimen of no throws until Friday, so he appears to be in a better spot than the last two weeks. It remains to be seen if he'll be able to log a full practice, which will be confirmed during the release of Wednesday's injury report. Achieving such status would more or less clear Winston for Sunday's divisional game at New Orleans, barring a setback.

Published: Wed, Nov 1 at 10:55am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Set to practice Wednesday

Winston is nursing some soreness with his right shoulder, but is set to practice Wednesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: During preparations for both of the Buccaneers' last two games, Winston hadn't practiced until Friday while nursing the shoulder injury, so even if he ends up going down as a limited participant Wednesday, his involvement in the team's first session of the week suggests he may be showing some improvement on the health front. Winston struggled mightily in Sunday's loss to the Panthers, completing 21 of 38 passes for 210 yards and tossing two interceptions, but since he shredded the Bills for 384…read more

Published: Wed, Nov 1 at 9:54am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com